It's not easy to trace the source of mites. Others who posted might be right - your snakes may have had mites, and they keep "coming back" because the mites are hanging out somewhere, even while you are treating your snakes. They might be somewhere else in the room.

Or, they could be in the bedding, if it is a bulk type of aspen.

I've never had a problem with my snakes getting mites from aspen when I was using it (but I bought the packaged compressed bales from pet stores)... but if Agway stuff sits out for a long time, who knows.

In any case, do NOT use any type of wood shaving product until you are certain the mites are gone from your collection. Throw away any shavings you have in your house, in case the mites are in those. Use paper towel or newspaper as a substrate.... treat your snakes again and keep using the paper substrate for a while. If the mites come back again, there is some other problem (they are residing somewhere else in your house or you're not disinfecting/cleaning the cages well enough, or treating for long enough, to get them all).

Not fun, I'm sure. But aspen and other wood-based bedding makes a good hiding place for mites, regardless where the mites came from. So, until you've eradicated them, best to stay away from those types of substrates for now.

Good luck...
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa

[ Hide Replies ]

• SUBSTRATE and MITES!!! - JustinM., Wed Nov 14 20:23:00 2007
• RE: SUBSTRATE and MITES!!! - EricIvins, Wed Nov 14 20:30:18 2007
• RE: SUBSTRATE and MITES!!! - jscrick, Wed Nov 14 21:33:44 2007
• RE: SUBSTRATE and MITES!!! - liquidleaf, Thu Nov 15 07:32:00 2007